Jī Jié was born into the large royal Jī family that ruled
China since 1046 BC, though by his time the dynasty had become effectively powerless. Their remaining crown land was embroiled in infighting and succession disputes, so that it was split into two factions, led by rival nobles:
Western Zhou and
Eastern Zhou. Jié, as Duke Wen, ruled over the East from Chengzhou, and largely ignored the authority of
King Nan of Zhou who resided in
Wangcheng and was supported by the western nobles. In 256 BC, however, war broke out between West Zhou under Nan and the state of Qin under
King Zhaoxiang of Qin. Qin annexed the West, deposed King Nan and forcibly ended the Zhou dynasty. Many citizens and members of the royal family then fled to East Zhou, where they proclaimed Wen as the King of China (
Son of Heaven) in 255 BC. Allied with Ji Zhao, son of King Nan, Wen organized a resistance against Qin, and managed to preserve the last Zhou holdouts for six years. Ji Zhao's forces were defeated in 251 BC, and two years later the army of Qin took Chengzhou. Wen was executed, and the city given to
Lü Buwei for his services to
King Zhuangxiang of Qin. The remaining Jī family members fled to the
State of Wey. == References ==